Ep 128: From Smelling Salts to Sensorimotor Testing: A Better Way to Treat Concussions

When Dr. Ted Arkfeld started as a team chiropractor in the early 2000s, the standard sideline concussion test was a whiff of smelling salts and a question: "Feel okay? Get back in." Twenty-plus years later, he's built one of the most rigorous neurological assessments in the field, and is one of the only chiropractors in the country presenting concussion research alongside the world's foremost authorities. In this episode, he walks us through what changed, what's still broken, and a better way to treat concussions from the nervous system up. We cover: Why you cannot have a concussion without a cervical spine injury and why mainstream concussion medicine has been late to catch on The Neuro Sports Performance Evaluation that combines autonomic testing, sensorimotor function, and Neubie mapping The 3x increase in lower-extremity injury risk after a concussion and how to prevent it Why even gentle treatment can metabolically overwhelm a concussed brain and how a $20 pulse oximeter solves it The layered treatment protocol Dr. Arkfeld uses: Cox flexion-distraction, Master Reset, Normatec, BrainTap, and progressive neuro rehab If you treat athletes – or you're the parent of one – this conversation will change how you think about concussion management.